15
Ericeira
is a privileged seaside resort. This maritime
town with an 800-year old history is located 50 km north of Lisbon. It offers a perfect environment for relaxation and enjoyment. With clean waters that are rich in mineral salts and an iodine-rich climate, the Ericeira zone offers excellent beaches - such as those in Foz do Lizandro, S. Lourenço, S. Sebastião and Ribeira d’Ilhas, world famous for surfing, bodyboarding and skimming. If you like smaller, more intimate beaches, visit the Praia da Orelheira. With a long fishing tradition, Ericeira also has the Praia do Peixe and the extensive Praia do Sul. Given the zone’s important fishing activity it’s the perfect place to enjoy some fish and shellfish dishes. Ericeira is also a wonderful place for taking a stroll. Calm and enchanting, the town offers excellent walks including an interesting range of shops and handicrafts.
17
Mafra
is drenched in History with many stories to tell. The
majestic Royal Convent of Mafra is located in the town centre. Portugal’s most distinguished baroque monument was commissioned by D. João V in the first half of the 18th century. The works were overseen by João Frederico Ludovice, who brought to Mafra a model inspired by Papal Rome and several Germanic influences. The monument includes a Basilica, Royal Palace, Franciscan Convent and an important library containing over 40,000 books. The building was the source of inspiration for the novel, “Memorial of the Convent” by Portuguese Nobel Literature prize winner, José Saramago. Inhabited on a sporadic basis, it served as the residence of the Portuguese royal family in 1807 during the reign of D. João VI, prior to the Court’s departure to Brazil.